Polar Opposites (In Aeternum Book 4) (29 page)

Her smile lit up the room. “Nope. I know how you taste, though.”

“Tell me more about your trip to Chicago. Did it go okay?”

She laughed. “Why don’t you just ask me outright how things went between me and your Jaydee?”

“Is that who your pilot was? I’d forgotten.” He grinned and tucked her closer to his body.

She snorted. “Not likely.”

“So?”

“Oh, is that how you ask? See, I thought it would be more like, ‘Bailey, how did your time with Jaydee go?’ and you would kiss me again before waiting for your answer.”

“What you said.” He kissed her. “And there’s the kiss.”

“You are such a wuss. We got along well enough. Wouldn’t say we’d ever be the best of friends, but we will not kill one another if we’re in the same room.”

“Good to know.”

“She’s scary smart.”

He tucked some hair behind her ear. “I told you she was.”

“She threatened me if I hurt you.”

Ivan drew back. “She threatened you?”

“Yes, that’s what it was. I thought it was but she said it most assuredly was a threat. Took that small bit of doubt right out of my hands.”

“She didn’t mean—”

“Trust me, Ivan. She meant every word she uttered. I’m not foolish enough to believe otherwise.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

She wound her arm around his waist. “Nothing to say. She loves you and to her, you’re family. That’s all the explanation needed.”

“And the rest of your trip?”

“Productive. At least I hope it will turn out to be. I got to meet the head of Theta Corps. That was pretty cool. I’d never met him before.”

“I still haven’t. What’s he like? Or she?”

“Big. Very imposing. Has this voice that nearly compels you to listen to what he’s commanding you to do.”

“But he was nice?”

“Yes. Serious, but again, he runs Theta Corps. I’m guessing he doesn’t have a lot of time to hang out and chillax.”

“You mean like we’re doing?”

“Yes.” She rolled them over so she was on top. “Now, enough about me. Tell me about what happened to you.”

“Two of the fuel trucks on the farm exploded. They took out the cameras so we didn’t know what was going on but we could feel tremors below ground. We weren’t allowed to leave for a few hours.”

“Holy shit. Was everyone okay? Anyone hurt?”

“Some of the workers died and more were injured. None of us underground had more than minor scrapes and cuts from the impact of the explosions.”

She rested her head against his chest. “You said two trucks and there were multiple explosions. So the trucks didn’t run into each other?”

“No. It was sabotage.”

Bailey raised up, a frown in place. “Sabotage?”

“One of the local drug cartels didn’t like that the workers no longer wanted to be their mules and hoped to put the farm out of business.”

“Damn.”

“So security is being increased and they lost a few of the fields but all shall be salvageable.”

“And those who lost their lives?”

“Monetary compensation for the families.”

She nibbled on his lower lip. “I’m so glad you weren’t injured.”

“Me too.”

“So what did you do while you were waiting?”

“Stayed in my office with Chrissy and Trick. We continued working. We had bottled water and some snacks so we were pretty well set.”

“Nice.”

He slid his hands down to cup her ass and held her closer to his groin. “What’s on the schedule for today?”

“I have to get some laundry done and clean. Need to pay some bills and pack my bags.”

He groaned. “Again?”

“It’s my job.”

“I know, I know. It is that. Doesn’t mean I like you leaving all the time.”

“You didn’t have to move down here.”

“I wouldn’t see you at all if I’d not done that.”

“I know.”

“Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.” She snuggled closer.

“Does it ever bother you, what you do?”

Her entire body stiffened and he knew he should have let it go. “Does your job?”

“I’m not following. I’m a scientist.”

“Whose inventions can kill.”

“Well, yes, they can, but we design them to save lives.”

“I’m no different. I was designed to save lives.”

“By taking others?”

She rolled off him and got to her feet, staring down at him, the sunlight surrounding her naked body. “I’m not any different than a scalpel the surgeon uses.”

“To save lives.”

“So it’s okay for you to make things that may kill one to save more but I can’t?” She hopped onto the floor. “I’m no different than anyone else—my title is just one that makes people think I’m cold-hearted or heartless. Military have the ability to kill as well. Snipers do. But the way you’re talking, it’s like I’m no better than a serial killer.” She shoved into her clothing. “I’m tired of having to defend my work to you, Ivan. I won’t do it. And you can’t seem to get past what I do. I get it, I do. It’s hard for some to understand.”

“Bailey, wait a minute here.”

“No. I’m done. But before I leave let me explain to you about the last kills I’ve made. One man was doing things to small villages that could easily rival what the Nazis did at Auschwitz. The next was a woman who sought to run her country so bad she was killing off the families of anyone who dared to speak out against her. She had a favorite pastime. Know what that was? She liked to hang up young girls, mostly in the ages of seven to ten. Why, you ask? Let me tell you. So she could have the pleasure—her words, not mine—of sodomizing and torturing them. It was her ‘fun time’ to see which ones could hold out. Those that did she would give to her generals to enjoy until they died. The final one was a man who killed off many by trying to turn them into an undetectable bomb, so he could send them anywhere in the world to do his work.”

She picked up her shoes and hurried out of his place, slamming the door behind her.

The sound of the door closing with such force snapped him back to reality. He’d watched her storm off yet it had almost been in slow motion. Her words echoed in his head and his gut clenched. Sure, he’d had his belief of what she did. His thinking may have been a bit archaic or antiquated, but to him it was the more viperous and cold-hearted person who killed. And they did that to whom and when they wished, purely because they enjoyed it. Or sold their services to the highest bidder, answering the call to the almighty dollar.

Neither of which identified the woman who’d just left his apartment. Bailey was a warm, caring person. The stuff she kept inside, the people she dealt with, had to be around, all of it could have created a bitter and angry person. Someone dealing with that could just as easily become a person who loved to kill.

Also not Bailey.

“And I was the largest horse’s ass to her.” He jumped up then dressed in sweats and a T-shirt hurriedly. “Stupid. Stupid. Stupid!”

Boots still untied, Ivan hastened down to the street. No sign of Bailey and he strode at an almost jog to her building. The trip took forever in his mind although he knew it was less than ten minutes away.

He took the steps two at a time up to her door and knocked forcefully. “Bailey.”

No response, nor did he hear anything from behind the door. He rested his head against the wood and moaned at his asinine behavior.

Where are you?

Unwilling to give up, he settled on the floor, back to her door, and waited. A noise on the stairs woke him and he checked his watch, astonished he’d been there for five hours. He had risen to his feet the moment a couple walked into view. His heart sank.

Come on, Bailey. You can’t avoid your place all day long.

Problem was, she most likely could. Not only that, if she was this pissed and didn’t want to see him, she probably would. He’d never seen her as angry as he had before today.

Her golden gaze had glinted unforgivingly, her entire posture had radiated fury.

Ivan smiled at the duo then headed down to the street. Maybe—and it was a faint chance—she’d gone back to his place.

A risky chance that didn’t pan out. She wasn’t there. This time he made sure to grab his phone. Locking the door, he dialed her number. It went straight to voicemail.

“Bailey, call me back. I didn’t mean— Please, just give me a chance to explain.”

Ivan wandered amongst the stalls in the market, checking her balcony and window for any sign she’d come home. Did it make him a stalker? He preferred to think of himself as a concerned boyfriend.

He returned to her building when the market vendors began packing up for the night. Same as before—no answer to his knocking, nor was there sound from inside that he could hear.

“I’m such a fucking idiot,” he groused.

This wasn’t how he’d planned this day to go. He’d envisioned a leisurely morning in bed, breakfast included. Rounds of off-the-wall, toe-curling and mind-numbing sex. Not—definitely not—to be heading home without any knowledge of where she was or—more importantly—how to rebuild the bridge he’d just blown the hell out of.

* * * *

The warm sun streamed down on her face as she played by the edge of the sparkling stream. The water wasn’t that deep—right now her toes could touch the bottom. Large frogs sat upon rocks, lending their voice to the day, and stared back at her.

Bailey held a stick, which she used to splash the crystal water and occasionally take a poke at a frog who wandered too close. Beside her on a small piece of gingham sat her sandwich—cheese, her favorite—and a crisp apple.

“Don’t forget to eat, Bailey! You mustn’t spend all your time playing. Even frog-pokers need their strength.”

“Okay, Mama.”

Wriggling her lips in distaste, she reluctantly reached for her sandwich. Who wanted to eat when there were frogs to poke and a stream to splash in? Or through.

Her hunger made itself known and she attacked the sandwich with gusto. The energy the food gave had her playing hard again as she pretended to be a knight, fighting a fierce battle. Shoes on the bank resting on the gingham, feet in the sandy bottom of the stream, she waged war. Her opponents were endless but she was the best fighter in the land. Her castle and the princess it protected were depending on her victory.

She swung, struck and danced back out of reach from their swords. Water soaked the hem of her dress but she didn’t care, this was for the princess. She
had
to succeed.

“Bailey!”

Her mother’s scream froze her before she scrambled from the water. She ran to where she’d seen them last. They came into view, yelling for her to run away. She stood there, blinking at them. Behind her parents followed three more. Men dressed in all black with scowls. Her father barely slowed, just scooped her up and kept going.

“There’s no point in running, Thomas. Where are you going to go? You knew this day would come. It was inevitable, the moment you betrayed me.”

They were in the stream and her parents stopped. He set her down and stepped in front of her. She wrapped her hand in his shirt. “Daddy?”

“Keep her back, Milly.” He pushed her toward her mama.

Her mother stared down at her then sank to her knees in the water. She smoothed some of Bailey’s hair back. “Listen to me, Bailey. I need you to do exactly as I say. Don’t ask questions, just do it. Promise me. I need you to be the bravest you’ve ever been. The knight who isn’t scared of anything they face. Can you do that for me?”

Bailey didn’t like this. She tried to look at her daddy but her mama gripped her chin and forced an eye connection.

“Run, my sweetest darling. Run and don’t look back. Go now.” She spun Bailey around and said, “Go now. Remember how much we love you. Always.”

As promised, Bailey began to go. She scrambled out of the water on the other side and ran as fast as her little legs would carry her. There were grunts and sounds of pain coming from behind her. She wanted to see. What was happening and where were her parents?

She stumbled and cried out as she hit the ground. She pushed up and brushed off her hands then looked over her shoulder. Her parents had left the water, her daddy on his knees, doubled over and her mama fell when one of the men backhanded her.

Bailey had to protect them. That was what knights did. She ran back toward them. She’d just begun crossing the stream again when the man in the middle gestured at her with his weapon.

“And who is this?”

“Leave my daughter alone,” her daddy demanded.

The man sneered and beckoned with the gun. Daddy had told her they weren’t toys and to never touch his unless he was there. “Come here, little girl.”

She did, ignoring her parents telling her to run away. She only took a few steps then stopped, unsure what to do. Somehow she had to help them. “Who are you?”

“Someone special. And who are you?”

She didn’t like him. He made her insides icky. “Bailey. It’s my birthday.”

His grin scared her. She wanted to hide but she couldn’t. Mama had said to be brave. She would do that.

“I’ll make sure to give you something special then. Would you like that?” He stroked his goatee.

“Don’t you touch my baby,” her daddy cried.

“Don’t worry, Thomas, I’ll make her feel loved.” An evil laugh. “In ways you can’t imagine.” He waved the gun. “Do it.”

She didn’t know what he meant but the two with him did. They reacted and the area echoed with two loud shots that hurt her ears. The water she stood in was cold compared to the warm liquid that sprayed across her face. Her parents flew back to land in the water beside her. She jumped and looked at them. Their blood mingled with the water flowing past her and on down the stream.

Bailey wanted to scream and beg her parents to get up. But she wouldn’t disappoint her mother’s last request. She wouldn’t disobey again. This was her fault because she’d come back instead of running like mama had told her to do.